From Augustus to the Splitting of the Empire

With Augustus Caesar, we see the beginning of the Roman Empire period of history. In place of Senators and Consuls running everything, Rome now has Emperors. In chronological order they were:

Tiberius (14 - 37)

Considered a capable ruler, but rather unpopular because of rather abominable vices that he was supposed to be involved in.

Caligula (37-41)

Apparently was quite insane, and was murdered by his servants.

Claudius (41-54)

Hardworking, capable administrator. He saw to the expansion of the western border with the annexation of South Britain. Died of poisoning by his wife, Nero, his adopted son's, mother.

Nero (54-68)

Aside from killing his mother and his first wife, and various other abominations, he is probably best known for playing a violin at a time when Rome was in flames. What really seems to have done him end however, was a military disaster in 61 when a warrior queen by the name of Boadicea inflicted the Roman army with a number of defeats. The earthquake in southern Italy didn't exactly help either. In 68, he terminated his reign via suicide.

Vespasian (69-79)

Seized power after the Year of the Four Emperors and set up his own dynasty. Considered a good emperor by most of the people.

Domitian (81-95)

North Britain annexed in 84.

Trajan (98-116)

Annexed Armenia, Assyria and Mesopotamia. The empire reached its maximum size during his reign.

Hadrian (117-137)

Lost Trajan's territorial acquistions along with North Britain. Had Hadrian's Wall constructed for the purpose of keeping North Britain separate from South Britain.

Severan Dynasty (193-235)

Started by Septimius Severus ruling alone, it gets a little messy figuring out who is doing what as the members were not above sharing the rulership with each other.

Crisis of the Third Century

With the assassination of Alexander Severus, the last of the Severan Dynasty, the means by which and who becomes ruler changes greatly. Prior to Maximinus Thrax , the emperors had always come from Noble or middle class plebian families. From this point onward a series of Emperors come out of the ranks of the Roman Army. The number of Emperors during this period is not only rediculously numerous, but many never even last a full year. Nor was entirely unusual for there to be as many as four emperors reigning in a given year, each controlling a different part of the empire. It was not until 306, when Constantine I, was proclaimed Emperor that the Roman Empire finally began the process back to full reunification.

Constantine the Great 306-337

Constantine succeeded in re-uniting the Western Roman Empire in 312. In the process of bringing this about, he became involved with the activities of the early christians. Because of a conversion that is believed to have occurred in connection with the Battle of Milvian Bridge he became openly supportive of Christianity. This ultimately lead to the Edict of Milan in 313 which fully legalized and legitimized the Christian Faith. Further deepening his involvement with the faith, in 314 he called the Council of Arles and later the First Council of Nicaea in 325.

Up until 320 Constantine shared rulership of the Roman Empire with Licinuis who ruled over the Eastern Roman Empire, and had shared in issuing out the Edict of Milan in 313. For reasons not understood, in 320 Licinius begain a new round of persecutions against the Christian Faith. This led to the Civil War of 324, which ultimately concluded with Constantine emerging as the sole ruler of the entire Roman Empire. A state of affairs that lasted until his death.

Theodosius I 379-395

He was the last Roman Emperor to rule over the entire original empire. After his death in 395, his sons permanently divided the empire into East and West.

<< From Tiberius Gracchus to the God Emperor in Rome

Timeline

Early Roman Faith & Belief >>